Anybody make alcohol stoves?

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goathunter
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Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:32 pm

Yep, that fuel will work.Just look for the biggest part(preferably larger than 70%) as ethanol or methanol and you're set.

And those burner are the coolest and toughest little things around.I've seen 5 packs for $9.Great stuff.
ive look on a wikipedia @ my language.
Didn't get that part.
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SnowFlox
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Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:40 pm

Well you got a english wikipedia ;) and ive looked at the dutch wikipedia ;)

5 packs for $9 ? that cheap !

Here at the dump it was about 16 euro's for one burner with a can.

how do you extingsuish the flame safely? just blow it out ?
goathunter
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Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:15 pm

Here at the dump it was about 16 euro's for one burner with a can.
I've noticed that,for some reason Europe is insanely high priced.I think some online British store still has them cheap.Not sure, that was a couple of weeks ago.
Ahh, here it is:
http://www.surplusandadventure.com/isho ... cr521.html
how do you extingsuish the flame safely? just blow it out ?
You can, but that doesn't always work.Especially when it REALLY starts to pressurize.The easiest is to take the windscreen off(I use my fork to keep from burning my hand) and snuff the burner with the cap.Make sure to take the rubber O-ring out. :wink:
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demilus
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Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:59 am

I would suggest being careful when extinguishing the flame. Try to have as small as a snuffer as possible, or alcohol vapors begin to build up inside.

My pepsi can burner (holes around the edges, open port in the middle) has the same alcohol efficiency as my pressurized jet burner. They both get about 18.5 min, on 15 tablespoons of alcohol. My pressurized burner actually gets a few seconds less than my pepsi can. Needless to say, I'm slightly disappointed.

So in liu of that, I'm making a new pressurized one, with smaller jets, in an attempt at better efficiency.
goathunter
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Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:55 am

They both get about 18.5 min, on 15 tablespoons of alcohol. My pressurized burner actually gets a few seconds less than my pepsi can. Needless to say, I'm slightly disappointed.
That's not right.I get about 10 min. an ounce(about 2tbsp).Give me a bit(sometime this evening) and I'll send you plans for a stove made out of a tuna can.A lot better stove, better burn time and a lot hotter.

And about the alcohol fumes building up.I've found that never to be an issue(build up is so small).I snuff mine out with a cap all the time.But you have to let the stove cool before putting it away so all the fumes dissapate in that time.

Smaller jets will help out.what I do for mine is get a pocket knife(swiss army's little blade) and slightly twist the point halfway through were you want the jets.Then take a thumbtack and push it in to half way up on the point.This makes a very small hole and in turn a larger and stronger flame. The ideal stove has anywhere between 15-25 holes. any more than that and you'll burn fuel like crazy.
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SnowFlox
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:14 am

this is intresting. got to need to make one by my self :)
goathunter
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:46 pm

If ya'll can wait a little while I've got plans for a tuna can stove that I'm uploading to my website.I'll link it over once I'm done.
I can PM anyone the plans minus pics.I've yet to draw up the diagrams and take pics but the instructions are done.If you're intersted PM me.I would put the instructions on here but its a 2 page word document.
pyrogeek
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:51 pm

Search online for pop and beer can stoves. There are all kinds of different designs. One uses one can. You cut a band from the center, cut a slit in it and coil it a little smaller, put it in the bottom of the can, and slide the top over it. The top has little holes poked in the where it's tapered. It's simple to make, and works very well once it is warmed up.
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turbohacker
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:53 pm

I have built many of these now and am experamenting with some copper pipe to heat the methonal.
I would be very interested in these uber cool plans that you speak of.
I have also found that the most efficent fuel is pure methonal(buy at racing stores)also known as alcohal or racing fuel :D
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goathunter
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:01 pm

Pyrogeek,there ya go.The little pop can stoves are great for playing around with.A great rainy day project.

Turbo,My dad uses methanol for biodiesel production.Great stuff, if you can get the pure kind.The dragsters sure do drink it up(as well as blind drunks) :D
I'll PM you the plans.Just a warning, you'll be reading for a while.I had to make it for beginners so it brings you step by step.
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demilus
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:02 pm

Whoops, sorry it's TEAspoons, not TABLEspoons. What is there, 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon? Still not that good. 18.5 min on 5 tablespoons.
goathunter
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:08 pm

Okay that explains it.By my experience you would've got about 1 1/2 hours out of 15 Tbsp.(7.6oz)
What is you're elevation.I've noticed that has a lot to do with it.But still,you should at least be getting 25 min out of it.

Wait,did you put any wicking material in the stove?That would be the kicker if you didn't.
pyrogeek
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Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:22 pm

http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/peps ... ruct.shtml
That's plans for the stove I mentioned earlier today. Once you make one, it's real easy. And all you need is a knife, a beer (or most preferably a Pepsi can because of the way they are made compared to like Coke cans) and fuel.

When I use methanol, I buy it as HEET gas line dryer/antifreeze. I don't use much though, otherwise I would find a way to get it cheaper. Sometimes I use it for for methyl borate (it just burns like regular methanol, but with a green flame). That's just to show off to friends and shit though. Or, I have put it in lawnmowers to abuse them. It's a great solvent for some things since it evaporates quick and doesn't leave a toxic residue. I have tried using it in one of these little stoves, like the one above, but it didn't burn hot or intense enough. Maybe I need differnet size slits or something to make it work right though. What works well for that stove I listed is Isopropanol. Either like 91% from a drug store, or Iso-HEET gas line dryer/antifreeze.
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goathunter
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Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:03 am

Pyrogeek, go down to lowes and pick up some denatured alcohol.This is the stuff to use.It's a lot better than heet.Although heet works in a pinch.So does pure grain alcohol.Albeit a little pricey to burn in a stove.
Maybe I need differenet size slits or something to make it work right though.
Slits as in getting the top to fit over the bottom? If so don't make slits the best way is to swell the metal.You can do this a few ways.Using either a metal bar/hammer/needle nose pliers.Its easy,once you've cut out the can hold it sideways on your leg.then take your bar and press down on the inside wall while at the same time rolling the can.After a while this will widen the can out and it will fit over the other can.Then press it down hard over the other half can and you have a gas tight seal.
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SnowFlox
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Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:09 pm

goathunter wrote:If ya'll can wait a little while I've got plans for a tuna can stove that I'm uploading to my website.I'll link it over once I'm done.
I can PM anyone the plans minus pics.I've yet to draw up the diagrams and take pics but the instructions are done.If you're intersted PM me.I would put the instructions on here but its a 2 page word document.
ahh well... when your done just post it here ;)
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